Chapter 5: What is YA Literature
Several components come together to build Young Adult Literature. The protagonist is youthful therefore utilizing a point of view that presents an adolescents interpretation of the events going on around them. The high independent protagonist also undergoes a significant life change. This character must also reap the consequences of their actions which will ultimately lead to gradual character growth. YA literature also mirrors concerns over contemporary issues (EX: Black Lives Matter movement - The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes, All American Boys by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds, Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles) and takes place over a brief time period.
One aspect of Young Adult literature that I enjoy is the mirror of concerns over contemporary issues. Diverse books fall under this category. Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed reminded readers that even though 9/11 was over a decade ago, the hate for Muslims has never really gone away. The young characters in Young Adult books reflect the problems with society and how they chose to process these issues. Sometimes the protagonist must deal with being part of the problem (Quinn in All American Boys) and think of how to be part of the solution.
I honestly never really thought about the fact that these books often take place over a brief time period with a limited setting. Maybe it’s because I have read so many series that span over a length of time. But if I were to think about each book individually, they often don’t span more than a year. One series that stands out to me is Gabrielle Zevin’s Birthright series. The three books take readers on a journey of two years into Anya’s life, but I remember it feeling like she was much older by the end than 18. This could have been a case of the author wanting to end Anya’s story before having to transition to New Adult.
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